SHILLONG:
Stressing on the importance of ‘green governance’, the state government has decided to partner with communities for the preservation of over 2 lakh hectares of forest cover in the next five years.
Annoucing on August 15, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “In partnership with such inspiring communities, the Government aims to preserve 2 lakh hectares of forest cover over the next 5 years.”
Stating that Meghalaya is blessed with 76% forest cover and more than 50,000 springs, Sangma said, “However, the perils of climate change threaten the delicate equilibrium of our ecosystems and could have serious impact on farming patterns and on the lives of agrarian communities.”
To mitigate these risks, he said the Government has initiated several afforestation programs and the country’s largest Payment for Ecosystem Services program, called Green Meghalaya.
The chief minister said communities are now paid an annual grant of up to 15,000 rupees per hectare for conserving the forest cover.
So far 1,500 communities have been supported for preserving almost 27,000 hectares of natural forest cover.
He said one such community is Lura village, Saipung block, East Jaintia Hills.
The village got an incentive of about four lakh rupees for protecting the 52 hectares of forests.
The community is utilizing a part of the money for taking up works like demarcation of forest, gap filling plantations, drawing fire lines, and assisting natural regeneration.
Further, the chief minister informed that the water conservation initiatives are being taken up in both rural and urban areas to harness the bountiful water resources the state is blessed with.
“Works are approved for creating new pondage area of almost 1,000 hectares,” he said while informing that construction of water harvesting structures will be mandated and incentivise in the urban areas.
Reiterating that the period 2023-28 is a watershed time for Meghalaya, Sangma said that the State must prepare for global phenomena like Climate Change, technological disruptions, and the emergence of Artificial Intelligence. We must think and act, both locally and globally.
“My government remains committed to securing the future of every citizen of the state,” he added.